Spain's Lottery Sellers Call for Higher Christmas Jackpot
Spain is facing a cost-of-living crisis with rising housing and energy expenses reducing disposable income, which lottery sellers say is dimming hopes of a big win. Some buyers even start purchasing Christmas lottery tickets as early as spring, spending substantial amounts.
Proposal to Increase Ticket Price and Jackpot
Borja Muñiz, President of ANAPAL—the association representing 4,100 lottery shops—urged the government to raise ticket prices and the top prize in the Christmas lottery to reflect inflation. He explained,
"The jackpot hasn't changed in 14 years, while prices have climbed about 26%. Before, you could buy two apartments with it. Now it barely covers one."
ANAPAL recommends increasing the price of a "décimo" (one-tenth of a ticket) from €20 to €25 and boosting the top prize per winning décimo from €400,000 to €500,000. This proposal has been submitted to the state lottery agency and the Budget Ministry, although the lottery organiser has not commented.
Financial Impact and Commission Requests
Lottery sellers report that inflation and growing costs have squeezed their profits. They are requesting an increase in commission for Christmas draw sales from 4.5% to 6%, aligning it with commissions on other national lottery draws.
Changes Coming to the 2025 Christmas Lottery
The Spain Christmas Lottery scheduled for 22 December 2025 will feature historic changes to its traditional format.
Summary: Spain's lottery sellers are pushing for a higher Christmas ticket price and bigger jackpot to combat inflation's impact and improve their earnings amid rising living costs.